Deltona Sets Rules To Size Up Its Houses

DELTONA - City leaders have decided to make the size of houses more consistent in Deltona neighborhoods.

The Deltona City Commission on Monday night passed an ordinance raising the minimum required house size in most areas.

Under the new rule, the minimum square footage required of many new houses will increase from 1,000 to 1,200. In some neighborhoods, the requirement will be raised even more, to 1,500 square feet.

Existing homes won't be affected unless they are severely damaged in a disaster. If a homeowner spends more than half his or her home's value on repairs, he or she will be required to comply with the new rules, including the house-size requirement.

Deltona City Planner Bob Nix said the ordinance will help prevent large homes from being built in neighborhoods where most homes are small, and vice versa.

Nix said people who want large houses often won't buy them if they're near small houses. On the other hand, people who buy small homes in neighborhoods where most houses are large pay more than they need to for their land, Nix said.

For that reason, he said, it is beneficial to keep house sizes consistent in each neighborhood.

``We're trying to recognize the character of each neighborhood and preserve it,'' Nix said.

The increase in the minimum-house size is one of several changes that came about when the city merged the two zoning documents that govern its growth. The changes are intended to be a temporary solution until a planning consultant can complete recommendations on an entirely new land-use code.

Beth McGee, executive officer of the Volusia County Homebuilders Association, said Tuesday that her organization has some concerns about the Deltona ordinance.

People recently have been buying larger homes because interest rates are low, she said. However, when interest rates increase, people will again want to buy smaller homes, she said.

``Increasing it [minimum-house size) from 1,000 square feet to 1,200 square feet is a pretty large jump,'' she said.

Other new rules passed by the commission include:

Restrictions on metal buildings. Under the new rule, metal buildings must have false facades to make them more attractive.